Automatic shell-tongs.



E, E. LOFLIN'.

AUTOMATIC SHELL TONGS.

APPucATloN msn Mov. s. '1911.

E. E. LOFLIN.

AUTOMATIC SHELL lTONGS. APPLscATloN FILED Nov. 9. |917.

Patented Oct. 15, 1918.

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NETE

EDDIE ESTELLE LOFLIN, OFvFOXWORTI-I, MISSISSIPPI.

AUTOMATIC SHELL-'Tones Speccation of Letters Patent.. Patented 001;, 15, 1918,

Application filed November 9, 1917. Serial N o. 201,124. Y

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDDIE E. LOFLIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of FoXworth, in the countyof Marion and State of Mississippi, have invented new and Improved Automatic Shell-Tongs, of which the following is a full,v clear, and eXact description.

`This invention relates to tongs or similar appliances for fishing or dredging for oysters, clams or the likeat the bottom of a river or other body of water, and the same has particular reference to improved details of construction over the device set forth and claimed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 1,233,074, issued to me on the 10th day of July, 1917.

More definitely stated, among the objects of this present improvement is to simplify and improve the means for connecting the tongs, jaws or grabs to the handle; to simplify, strengthen and otherwise generally improve the spring means acting upon the jaws tending to close the same automatically ;.to improve the latch means serving to hold thetongs openin set position, and to generally improve the plunger devices and ratchet means serving to prevent theundesired' opening of the tongs after the latch means have been tripped.

lith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists in the arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed, and while the invention is not restricted to the eXact details of construction disclosed or suggested herein, still for the purpose of illustrating a practical embodiment thereof reference is had to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device in closed position as when being hoisted. y

Fig. 2 is a similar view at .right angles to the position of Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 is a' vertical sectional detail on the line 3-3 of Fig.' 2.

Fig. it is a fragmentary side elevation indicating the relative position of the parts lwhen the jaws are being set in open position, but theoperating lever not yet returned to the normal position, said position, however, being indicated in dotted lines.

Fig. .5 is al transverse sectional detail on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a similar'view on the line 6 6.

Fig. 7 is a transversesectional detail on the line 77 of Fig'.` 3; and

Figs. 8 and 9 ar'edetail perspective views of the dog and hinge members referred to more particularly below.

AThis appliance in general terms comprises a pair of scoop shaped grabs or jaws 10 and V11 connected by means of rigid links 12 and 1'3 to the lower end of `a rigid handle y,or pole 14- whereby the appliance or device is ma nipulated. Thejaws 10 and 11 are adapted to swing away from each other into wide open position, the swinging movement being compound and through arcs of circles having their centers at 15 and 16 at the upper ends of the links 12 and 13 respectively and around centers 17 and 18 at the lower ends of said links. The aws are provided with a pair of arms 19 projecting inwardly from the pivots'17 and 18 and are pivoted coaXially of each other at 20 upon a vertically reciprocating plunger 21. The arms 19 adjacent to the pivots 17 and 18 lie in the same plane, but at their inner ends they are offset at 19 so as to lie on opposite sides of the plunger 21. Y

The lower portion of the plunger is indicated as beingiiat or rectangular in cross section and is equipped with a relatively slidable foot piece 22 adaptedto impinge against the bottom of the body of water for the purpose of tripping the device and permitting the aws to close under the force of a. strong spiral spring 23 surrounding the upper rounded main portion of the plunger. Said spring 23 is housed within the hollow lower end of the handle 14 and is shown portion of the plunger. Each latch includesV a hook at its free end coperating with one of the teeth 28. A. pair of links 31 are pivoted to the latches 29 and the lower portion of the slide, these links serving to hold the latches down or in position to coperate directly with the'teeth28 and' with the stop shoulders bearing against the free ends of their common pivotal connection 20 through the plunger. The weight of the main portion of the jaws orany other force acting thereon tending to closethe same. prematurely will be counteracted or resisted by the latches 29 coperating with the teeth 28.'

The lower end of the handle 14 is provided with' a strong ferrule reinforcing said lower end of the handle and serving as an anchorage'for the links 12y and 13. Above the ferrule .is` located a collar 33 surrounding the handle and' serving not only as a reinforcement for this hollow portion ofthe handle buty also as a fulcrum support for a setting lever 34 pivoted at 35. A keeper 36 Y- is locatedl farther up on the handle and serves to hold the lever 34 in idle elevated position at all times except when the lever is' being manipulated to open and set the tongs.

The rounded upper portion of the plunger is Hprovidedwith av longitudinal slot 37 of su cient length toA accommodatethe swinging movement of the lever 34 and the swinging and reciprocating rod 38 pivoted-atits upper end at 39 to the lever 34 and having a horizontal pin 40 at its lower end projectj its ends with a cam surface 38.

ing through the slot 37 and extending across and below the lower endk of the handle. This pin 40 in its normal position-lies substantially against the bottom of the ferrule 32 and with the lower end wall of the slot 37 bearing substantially against the'lower face of the pin. The rod` 38 is provided between This cam portion of the rod, when the rod is in norvmal position', does not extend laterally beyond the ferrule and handle, but when the lever 34 is swung downward the upper end of the rod is carried laterally beyond the handle and causesjthe cam surface 38 of the rod to pass outwardly so as to project beyondv the ferrule. Compare Figs. 1 andv 4. The force applied to the hand lever 34 acting first to swing'the upper end of the rod laterally as just described serves eventually to force the'plun'gerdownward with respect to theA handle, such forcef being applied through the linger 40 and against the lower end of the slot 37. This action of the plunger straightens/the toggle 19 and carries the pivot 2O thereof past the linel of centers of the pivotsY 17 and 18 and brings the ,teeth 28 in position to be engaged and held by the hooked' latches' 29. The keeper Y41V is co`nnected to the handle just above the ferrule 32 andv serves to'gu'ard the rod 38 and hold it in position.

Vith reference now especially to Figs. 3 and 5 it will be noted that the upper portion ofthe plunger is provided with a rfa-ek 42 indicated as substantially coextensive with the roundedA portion of the plunger. The main portion of the rack is set off or spaced from the rounded portionv of the plunger to provide a" space42 to accommodate the heavy expansion main spring, 23. The'bot'tom of the ferrule isdesigned to accommodate the plunger and rack and. constitute a seat lfor the lower end of the spring so that when the plunger is forced downwardly and the spring is put undery compression the lower end offthe spring-is held from'V movement with respectY to the handle. Any suitable forrn of dog. may be provided to coperate with the teeth of the rack 42 to prevent undesired opening of the jaws. For this purpose I vprovide that type of dog indicated'in detail' in Fig.

8, the same having a point 43 connected by' means of a spring tongue 44 to a plate-45 extending transversely across and Asecured rigidly to one side of the" ferrule 32. Adjacent and parallel to thespring tongue 44 I provide a projection 46 having. an angularly formed flange 47 Vwithin or against which the camvportion 38 of the rod 38 is adapted to operate, to release the point 43 of the dog from the'rackteeth or rather to hold said point out of the path ofv said teeth when the rack and plunger are projected downwardlyrunder thev force applied to the lever 34. In other words immediately after the lever 34 is swung outwardly from the keeper 36, the rod 38 acts through the projection 46 to throw said projection and dog outwardly putting the spring 44 under tension, the point of the dog` being then free from the rack teeth 42. See Fig. 4. During the latter portion of the move# ment of therlever and the projectionA of the plunger the cam surface or -edge 38 acts to hold the dogl in the position just indicated. If, however, the lever 38 be maintainedin its normal elevated position the dog 43 will always be in position to engage the rack teeth and prevent undesired: downward movementof thev plunger. The upper ends of the links 12 and *13 are provided with T-shaped heads constituting the aforesaid pivots 15 and 16` respectively. The head 15' is shorter at onev endfthan at lthe other' and lies within aconcavity 48 formed' across the lower portion of a hinge plate 49. This plate is connected at its upper por- 1 Afclosin side vof the ferrulev and is formed with a bearing concavity 51 to accomodate the T head 16 of the opposite link.

With the foregoing specific description of the preferred embodiment of the invention, its operation may be briefly set forth as follows: In order to open and set the jaws in position to be lowered to the bottom of the riverY or the like the operator grasps the lever 34 and swings it down into or toward the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4. This action, through the rod 38 and finger 40 projects the plunger downwardly placing the strong main spring 23 under suiiicient tension to close the jaws at the ntended time. This movement of the lever and rod throws the dog 43 out of the path of the rack teeth 42 and when this movement is completed theV locking latches 29 engage the teeth 28 and hold the jaws in wide open position. The force of the spring 24 being brought into actioniat'the proper time insures that durin this opening and setting movement the sde 22 will occupy itsfdownward position with respect to the plunger and insuring locking action of the latches. With the parts thus positioned as indicated in Fig. 4 a very rigid structure is provided, for with the lever 34- and connecting rod 38 restored to normal elevated position and the dog 43` acting upon' the teeth of the rack 42 no relative movement of the jaws around their pivots 17 and 18 can take place until the latches 29 are released. In other words the plunger will ordinarily remain projected downwardly by the fact that the pivot 20 has passed below the line of centers of the pivots 17 and 18 and the latches are in engagement with the teeth 28. Any force acting upon the point of either of the jaws tending to swing the same upwardlyV around the pivot 17 or 18 and tending to swing the pivot 2O downwardly will be resisted by the dog 43 holding the plunger from such movement, While the link 12 or 13 of such jaw constitutes a rigid strut preventing upward movement of the pivot 17 or 18. 4Obviously the con'- necting arm 19 will prevent lateral swinging movement of the jaw until the latches are released. When the foot of the slide 22 impinges against the bottom of the body of water or other obstacle it is forced upwardlyV against the spring 24 carrying upwardly the latches 29 and releasing the same from the teeth 28, when the main spring 23 will be free to carry upwardly the entire plunger with its slide and the inner coaxially pivotedends of the arms 19 and the jaws.

While I have shown and described the inner ends of the latches 29 as pivotally attached at 30 tothe plunger 21 whereby there isa'swinging movement" provided for the latches with respect to the plunger, I show as an alternative means forl attaching the latches, the slide 22 provided with holes 22L and each of the latches provided with a hole intermediate of its ends at 291 so that by extending a pin, or itsequivalent, through the registering holes 29a and 22@ the latches may be in effect-rigidly connected tothe slides by virtue of the links 31, all of which parts are connected to the same slide member. The spring 24, however, serves to cause the hooks of the latches 29 to snap over the teeth 28 in the setting of the devices into the open position of Fig. 4, and likewise the slide when it impinges against the bottom of the water will be forced upwardly against the tension of the spring'24`to release the latches in the tripping action. i l

I claim: y l.v In automatic shell tongs, the combination with a rigid handle having a hollow end, jaw members, and pivoted link connections between the handle and the jaw members, of means operating within the handle and pivotally connected tothe jaw members to control the movement of the'jaw members, said controlling means comprising a rigid member reciprocating in the hollow handle, and a strong coil spring housed .within the handle and acting upon the rigid member to move the same and the jaw members in one direction. A

2. In shell tongs, the combination with a rigid handle having lat one end an axial bore, a ferrule fitted upon said end'and having a hole therethrough and registering with said bore but of smaller size, a pair of jaws, pivotal connectionsy between the jaws and the handle, said jaws includinga pair of in-y wardly projecting arms and a rigid' member having one end located in the handle bore and' reciprocating through the ferrule hole, of a coil spring surrounding-one portion of the rigid member within the handleV and bearing at one end against the ferrule, means pivotally connectingthe inner Yends of the arms to the rigid memberto move the same in one Vdirection placing said spring under tension and opening the jaws, and means acting to hold the jaws open.

3. 'In automatic shell tongs, the combina'- tion with a rigid handle having a hollow lower end, a ferrule fitted upon said end and having a central hole therethrough registering with the hollow portion of the handle but of smaller size, a pair of jaws, la pair of rigid links pivotally connecting the jaws to the ferrule and a plunger reciprocating through the ferrule hole, of means pivotally connecting the inner portions of the jaws coaxially of each other upon, the plunger,- a spring located within the hollow handle, oney end of the spring being connected to the end of the plunger andthe other end of the spring being seated upon the ferrule, said spring serving to elevate the' plunger-andr close the jaws,-manuallyactuated means adapted to act upon the plunger against?A the forcer-ofthe-spring to open-thejaws, and meansfvmovably mounted `upon the plunger to -lock the jaws1open.

4; In shell vtongs-of the character set forth, the combination with arigid--handle,a pair off-jaws Vpiv'otally supported thereon fan-d a rigid plungermovable endwise along the handle-and connectedv to the-jaws tocontrol the opening and closing movements thereof, of a rigid-slide mounted ,upon the lower; end of the plunger vand adaptedv for independent endwise movement thereon, latch devices carried byY the plunge-rand the 4upperl end `of the sliderfandfcoperatingL W-iththe jaws to hold them open-,said slide being movable; as a result of impact with the bottom'of the waterI -to releasesaidl latch devices, and spring means `actingbetweenthe slide and the .plunger serving to normally -hold the slide extended downwardly.l Y

5. In automatic shell tongs, the combination with a-rigidihandle, aplurality of jaws movable towardv and from each other, anchor means supporting the jaws uponthehandle andV a plungermovable along the-'handle and having pivotal connection with the V j aws to positivelyucause the opening-and closing movements thereon-means to move the lplunger, a slide mounted upon'the lowerend `of the plunger and adapted to impinge. against an obstacle when the tongsarefto be closed, said `slide being :movable independently along the plunger, ay spring acting between the' yslide and thefplunger tending to prevent the independent movement of. .thel slide, and a plurality,o'flatches-v connected to theplunger and the slide and acting upon the respective jaws 'tofhold' the-ijaws-open. I 6. lnfautomatic shell tongs, the combination with a handle, a plunger reciprocating endwise therealong, -a pair of Vjaws suspend` edV from :the handle, said jaws having-iinwardly projecting overlapping arms and pivotal .connections between said arms and the plunger, said arms having locking teeth, of a rigid memberslidable lengthwise-upon v the lower end of the .plungen-means acting between theJ rigid lmember and the lplunger tending to hold the rigid member projected downwardly Awith respectto the plunger, and a vpairoi' latch members rpivoted vupon the plunger and lthe upper-end of the rigid -member and coperating with said teeth to hold the jawsopen when the plunger and rigid member are projected downwardly.

7 In automatic shell tongs, the combination with a rigid handle, a pair of rigid linksfpi-voted to the lower end-of the-handle, apairof-jawsvpivot'ed toi the-lower ends of the links, and a plunger movable lengthwise alongv the handle `having Vpivotal yconnection with the jaws, and meansto positively move ythe 4plungerrendwiseztobpen and.- close the Areeel-,V99

jaws; of a, slide embracingJthe-lower endiof the plunger fand. adapted V5to' move' endwise thereon indepen'dently-of the movements Y of the plunger, Vthe -lower 'gend offithe 'slide constituting Vfoot adapted-itorimpinge: against anx obstacle, av coil springslocated between uthe foot andthe lower endof'fthefplungertend` ing-to keep the slide projected downwardly, a pair-of locking llatches:carriedon the plunger on opposite sides of the slideiand col; operating with shoulder portion-s ofthevjaw` arms to prevent undesired.movement .thereof, and` link members f connectedf-to'fvthe latches and the foot acting lbetwe'enthe lower vend/portion .of Athe slidev andi-'said latches serving 4to; cause -the'latches tof=operate when the plunger and slide larexprojected-downwardly.

` 8. rln-automaticshell tongs'ofzthe: character set forth, .the combination with a-rigid handle, a pair fof awssuspendedf therefrom, a plunger movable lengthlwiselofithehandle and pivotally connected lto kthe j awe-to open andfclosethe sameyand lever" devices acting between the :handle andr the plu-nger Ato -pro-v ject the same to open lthe-jawspofl locking and'tripping devices-.mounted and movableupon ythe lowerend of the rplungeraiserving toy hold the jaws apart, and a-,-coilfspring" mounted within the handle-and 'acting directly upon vthe upper end of the plunger to elevate the'same and close the-,jaws-whensaid tripping devices arel .sprung `bye impact against an obstacle. y

9. Inf-shell tongs, the combination .fof a handle, a: plungerV reciprocatingxinitheend of the handle, said' plungerv having arack connected thereto vandxreciprocating .with the plunger in the handle, a -par .of-zjaws, pivotal connections between the jaws and theV plunger, a pair .of rigidhangerlinks pivoted to the jaws onopposite sidesiof .the plunger connections, means pivotally-.con-- necting theupper ends-'or1 the links tothe handle, said Alast mentioned means including a pair of bearing plates, a spring Aactuated dog secured to one side of the end of'the handle by meansiof one of said platesand coperating with ltherack teeth to :prevent undesired movementvof the rack in one direction, and means serving to positivelyfproject the -plunger,said last. mentioned means including a reciprocating rod acting :upon said dog to lremove the same. from engaging position. ,Y

10. In-shelltongs, the combination of a handle having a hollow end, ai ferru-le fitted upon -said end and having afhole therethrough registering withthe hollow end but smaller in diameter, a plunger having a slotted Around lupper lend reciprocating through said ferrule hole, a `coil-spring within the hollow handle surroundingthe round portion of the plunger, one end of the plunger while the other end of the spring is seated upon the ferrule, a rack secured to one side of the round portion of the plunger, a spring operated dog on one side of the ferrule and coperating with said rack teeth, said dog including a transverse engagement plate, a rack engaging point, a spring tongue between the plate and the point, and a lateral projection extending from the point remote from the plate, and means carried by the handle for manually projecting the plunger downwardly, said last mentioned means including a reciprocating rod coperating with said lateral projection of the dog to hold the same out of the path of the rack teeth while the plunger is being manually projected.

EDDIE ESTELLE LOFLIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

